The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-04-27
HENRY /. BlOSSAT, Business Manager

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for many years; but we did not feel
until recently that we could be spared
from our home work. A little over
five years ago we nursed the daughter
of a New York banker in Rome, and it
was through her influence that we de-
cided to come to this country. Five
years ago another Sister and myself
came to this city to see whether we were
really needed here. had been at the
head of the House in Dion, France.
We first found quarters in the Found
ling Asylum on Sixty-eighth street and
Lexington avenue, where we were for
two months; then we took the house,
LAG West Twenty-second street. where
we remained two years. We soon
found that we needed more Sisters, and
accordingly more were sent to us until
we now number twenty-one. Last
summer on my return from France,
brought eight back with me- We
haven't half enough now to supply our
needs. We could use fifty at least.
'Three years ago we leased this
house for five years. 1t seems rather
large, but it is none too much so.
When our Sisters are nursing patients
with contagious diseases they must have
rooms in the house apart from the rest,
where they may be quarantined. We
nurse all kinds of sick people, what
ever may be their complaints, and a
quarantine is, therefore, often neces-
sary. We have bought some land on
Eighty-first street and Lexington ave-
nue., where we will erect suitable and
permanent house as soon as we have
the necessary means. The order will
be extended to other cities as soon as
possible. I think the first branch house
will probably be in Boston"
care all of your Sisters from Eu-
roper" asked the writer.
Eyes. None have as yet Joined the
order in America. We are very strict
in our rules for membership. The APP
plicant must be educated, and can
never have been servant, and she
must be under twenty-five years of
age. Thus our novitiate is very
severe and long. The appli-
cant must spend from three to five
years nursing before she can be admit
ted. This nursing has to be done in the
houses of the sick, for no hospital train
ing would answer. At first the appli-
cant wears dress different from our
costume, so that the doctors may know
that she is a novice and not trust her
too fully before she is experienced. She
always accompanies another Sister in
these visits. After her apprenticeship
is served she is admitted into the Sis
terhood. She must then serve about
five years longer near the house where
she is admitted before she is trusted to
go long distance away from it. At
the end of about ten years she COM
petent nurse and may be sent to the
end Of the world, if need be. Then, too,
before any applicants are received we
must know all about the family and
antecedents of the applicant. We must
be very careful of the regulations OF
our Order"
That this care is strictly exercised,
the fact that Sister has never failed
to meet with the utmost respect
wherever she has been bears abundant
testimony. In the homes of the rich
they are treated with the most dis
tinguished courtesy, and in the homes
of the poor and ignorant this respect is
never omitted. The present house of
the Sisterhood has been neatly and
newly furnished. The former parlor
of the Fathers has been tastefully trans
formed into beautiful chapel. The
altar is gift of former patient and
the rich branch ornaments came from
Paris. Over the altar is an oil painting
of our Saviour, standing on globe, on
one side of which is inscribed France
and on the other America" Fragrant
flowers bloom on either side of the rail
and the light enters the room through
two richly stained glass wind ows.
Here every morning mass is said by
one of the clergymen of the Dominican
Church. IN y Graphic.